“That is the one!”
Lewis Hamilton couldn’t conceal his pleasure as he walked among the many street automobiles within the ‘heritage part’ of Ferrari’s headquarters in Maranello, Italy.
As he noticed a brilliant purple Ferrari F40, one of many rarest of the producer’s street automobiles, in the midst of the ground, he paused. Spreading his fingers throughout the rear spoiler, a smile engulfed his face. He’d discovered his favourite.
It was this type of surprise that Hamilton, a seven-time world champion who has seen and gained all of it in Formulation One, sought when he determined to maneuver to Ferrari. For all of the success he loved with Mercedes, nothing may match the historical past and the magic of F1’s most iconic staff.
The second he had dreamed about since childhood, turning into a Ferrari driver, had lastly arrived.
Day one at Maranello had been virtually a 12 months within the making for Hamilton. Since asserting his shock choice to give up Mercedes after 12 seasons, he endured a tough and, by his personal admission, often awkward ultimate 12 months. Closing that chapter in Abu Dhabi could have been emotional, but Hamilton knew it was giving strategy to one thing new and thrilling.
To mark the beginning of this period, uniting F1’s most profitable driver and most profitable staff, each element needed to be meticulously deliberate. Ferrari F1 staff principal Fred Vasseur was reluctant to have a giant presentation or media occasion, not wishing so as to add any further work or distraction to the staff’s plate amid its preparations for the brand new season.
Nevertheless it needed to make Hamilton’s first week at Maranello memorable.
The F40 housed within the ‘previous’ aspect of Ferrari’s manufacturing unit — the headquarters is cut up between the historic a part of the power, famous by its yellow buildings and partitions, and the ‘new’ aspect that’s purple — was wheeled via the Italian drizzle to the Piazza Michael Schumacher, named after the nice who gained 5 of his seven F1 titles for Ferrari. On it stands the home of Enzo Ferrari, the founding father of the legendary producer who had watched many legends pattern his purple automobiles from the window. Historical past resides wherever you flip at Maranello.
Hamilton met with Vasseur and Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna earlier than posing for photographs outdoors the home subsequent to the F40. Even Hamilton’s outfit for the day had been fastidiously deliberate by his stylist, Eric McNeal, proper right down to his red-soled Louboutin boots. The primary official footage of Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari F1 driver, rapidly went viral and have become the most-liked picture on F1’s Instagram web page in lower than 24 hours, in addition to gracing all of the entrance pages of the Italian sports activities newspapers the subsequent morning.
Hamilton’s arrival picture went viral and made headlines world wide — particularly in Italy. (Clive Rose / Getty Pictures)
Hamilton additionally made time to go to the followers, Ferrari’s loyal tifosi, who had congregated outdoors the manufacturing unit gates at Maranello because the early morning hours, determined to glimpse their new hero on his first day.
Whereas at McLaren and Mercedes, Hamilton struck a powerful bond along with his followers (referred to as ‘Crew LH’) and desires to rekindle that type of relationship at Ferrari.
“I don’t know actually what to anticipate, however I’m actually trying ahead to connecting with that neighborhood,” Hamilton stated in a press convention final August. Taking a couple of minutes with followers to pose for footage and supply signatures as they chanted his identify was a very good first gesture. It created a bystander out of Ferrari president John Elkann, one of many key brokers in signing Hamilton and maybe probably the most highly effective determine at Ferrari.
So much rests on 2025 for each Ferrari and Hamilton. Ferrari missed out on its first constructors’ championship since 2008 by simply 14 factors, whereas Hamilton continues to be looking for a record-breaking eighth world title. His struggles with the Mercedes automobile via 2024 made for a season of lagging behind teammate George Russell. Shaking off that funk and proving he nonetheless has the sting that when made him near-impossible to beat on the peak of his powers in F1 is a crucial a part of this transfer.
It made Hamilton’s time attending to know his new colleagues via a manufacturing unit tour and subsequent conferences on Monday and Tuesday vitally vital. Hamilton at all times took power from the closeness of his relationships along with his teammates at Mercedes, notably along with his race engineer, Peter Bonnington, who he likened to a brother. Taking up that function might be Riccardo Adami, who was the engineer for Carlos Sainz (the Spaniard affectionately nicknamed Adami ‘Ricky’) in addition to four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, and can now be the voice on the top of the radio to Hamilton via races.
Hamilton suiting up for his first check at Fiorano. (Ferrari)
Ferrari deliberate Hamilton’s first on-track outing behind the wheel of its 2023 automobile for Wednesday at its non-public check monitor, Fiorano, which is adjoining to the manufacturing unit. Nevertheless it was at all times weather-dependent, making it arduous to foretell within the depths of January in northern Italy.
Preparations via Monday and Tuesday included a seat becoming and sampling Ferrari’s simulator, giving Hamilton an opportunity to really feel, no less than just about, how his new automobile would carry out. One among his nice struggles via 2024 was feeling assured and balanced with the automobile, notably below braking along with his late, aggressive fashion. Over a single lap, Hamilton usually didn’t get probably the most out of the automobile. The simulator could have no less than given a primary learn of what he can anticipate from the Ferrari this 12 months, even when nothing compares to the true factor.
Hamilton’s new race helmet design for this 12 months returns to the yellow he first used as a baby in go-karts to permit his father, Anthony, to simply spot him on the monitor. Photographs of the helmet, in addition to Hamilton posing within the basic purple Ferrari race go well with for the primary time, had been shared with the world, build up pleasure earlier than his first on-track working. All that was required was for the climate to play ball.
Driving a two-year-old F1 automobile on a misty, chilly day round a brief check circuit could not have the hallmarks of a particular second, however for Hamilton, this was a day he had dreamt of since taking part in as Michael Schumacher on video video games as a youngster, questioning what it is likely to be prefer to be within the cockpit of the purple automobile sometime.
Simply because it was for Schumacher at Fiorano on the finish of 1995 forward of his transfer to Ferrari for the next season, Hamilton’s maiden outing was each understated and poignant. After becoming his new purple race go well with in Enzo Ferrari’s home, Hamilton walked over to the straightforward storage setup subsequent to the monitor, no greater than a fuel station forecourt (and branded like one, because of staff companion Shell) and was greeted by his staff. Because the engineers ran via the processes, Hamilton scribbled down issues to recollect right into a small pocket book.
Hamilton and Ferrari’s crew hit the bottom working this week (Ferrari)
There have been a lot of new faces in Ferrari gear for Hamilton to get to know, however a number of watched on with added fondness, together with dad Anthony. Vasseur had labored with Hamilton in junior classes they usually at all times remained pleasant, paving the best way for his or her reunion virtually 20 years later. Jerome d’Ambrosio, the deputy staff principal, and Loic Serra, the chassis technical director, each labored at Mercedes when Hamilton was there.
However possibly probably the most important and stunning returnee was Angela Cullen, Hamilton’s former coach and efficiency coach.
Hamilton and Cullen labored collectively for seven years earlier than out of the blue splitting simply two races into the 2023 season. Cullen had been a core a part of Hamilton’s internal circle, overseeing his bodily preparations and serving to him forward of races. She spent final 12 months working in IndyCar however is now again with Hamilton’s staff after signing with Undertaking 44, his administration firm that appears after his enterprise pursuits. Her return is vital for Hamilton, who will take consolation in having some familiarity in the course of the massive adjustment that comes with becoming a member of a brand new staff.
At 9:16 a.m., Hamilton peeled out of the storage and onto the monitor. Ultimately, he was a Ferrari F1 driver. Followers and TV cameras had gathered at a few vantage factors overlooking Fiorano to catch a glimpse of the well-known #44 emblazoned on the Ferrari, together with one on a bridge subsequent to a busy street. No size is simply too nice for the tifosi.
Testing an previous automobile wouldn’t have given Hamilton a lot by way of correct readings of how the brand new season could go, but it no less than provided the possibility to regulate to Ferrari’s manner of working. The SF-23 automobile, the one non-Crimson Bull winner of 2023, provided a primary understanding of the facility supply of the Ferrari engine and the features of the steering wheel, each of which is able to differ from what he was used to at Mercedes.
Hamilton solely managed 30 laps via a handful of runs within the morning, finishing an set up run on moist tires earlier than switching to slicks, and there have been photographs of him locking up at factors, but it was by no means about outright tempo or efficiency. The race drivers are restricted to 1,000km of personal check working in previous automobiles via the 12 months, that means Hamilton’s 89km run, adopted by teammate Charles Leclerc’s 42km run within the afternoon, leaves loads of room for extra forward of the brand new season. An additional outing is deliberate for Hamilton in Barcelona within the coming weeks earlier than his first run within the 2025 automobile on February 19 at Fiorano, at some point after the F1 season launch occasion at The O2 in London.
Neither the restricted working nor the climate would cease his Ferrari debut from being, to cite Hamilton, “top-of-the-line emotions of my life.”
As soon as his run was full, he was taken in a black Alfa Romeo street automobile to get out and wave on the dozens of followers who stood behind one of many fences. His mom, Carmen, stood taking photographs on her telephone. Watching her son in Ferrari purple for the primary time, she drank within the second. Hamilton couldn’t assist however break right into a smile on the chants of, “Olé!, olé, olé, olé! Lewis, Lewis!” that greeted him. The tifosi have already warmed to Hamilton, immediately turning into their new hero.
“I already knew from the skin how passionate the Ferrari household is, from everybody within the staff to the tifosi,” Hamilton stated. “To now witness it firsthand as a Ferrari driver has been awe-inspiring. That keenness runs via their veins and you’ll’t assist however be energized by it.”
Ferrari completely balanced making Hamilton’s arrival a ‘second’ with out detracting from the main target, which have to be on its efficiency. It is aware of how vital this 12 months might be coming off the again of a 2024 season that may go down as a near-miss but in addition a giant swell in momentum that has ignited hopes simply on the proper time. As a lot as this week featured public nods to the brand new starting, the behind-the-scenes work and adjustment was what actually mattered to Hamilton.
It’s a week that may have rekindled a number of Hamilton’s love and fervour for F1. As dedicated as he was to the Mercedes venture, even via the hardest of occasions, the on-track difficulties induced that flame to flicker.
This alteration to a brand new, formidable venture, one which carries the load of an expectant fanbase, a nation’s sporting pleasure and the historical past of those that’ve come and succeeded earlier than in Ferrari purple is exactly what Hamilton wanted.
Now, it’s about working arduous to make the adjustment as easy as attainable, earlier than his full debut in Australia on March 16 actually begins his Ferrari period.
High picture: Clive Rose, Alessandro Bremec by way of Getty Pictures; Design: Will Tullos/The Athletic